Research on Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative disc disease or DDD, is in fact the degeneration of the Intervertebral disc, which refers to the fibrocartilage that lies between adjacent Vertebrae* in the spine and clusters of chondrocytes**, both being suggestive to repair.
The main Cause of the development of Degenerative disc disease is aging:
As the body ages, the discs in the spine dehydrate or dry out, and lose their ability to act as shock absorbers between the vertebral bodies. The bones and ligaments that make up the spine also become less flexible and thicken. These conditions become more of an issue due to the minimal blood supply to the discs, unlike the muscles; so they lack reparative powers.
In this process, fibro-cartilage replaces the gelatinous mucoid material of the nucleus pulposus. Nucleus pulposus is the jelly-like substance in the middle of the spinal disc. Its function is to distribute pressure in all directions within each disc under compressive loads.
While this degeneration is a normal process of aging – It is rather a ‘Condition’ than a ‘disease’ - and for some people does not create any physical issues; for others can be accompanied by inflammation, be very painful and hence affecting their life quality dramatically. This difference is mainly because some people have nerve endings that penetrate more deeply into the outer layers of their discs, producing an area more prone to inflammation and pain.
Other factors that can contribute to the development of inflammation and pain, as a result of this condition, are the life styles and the different works that people do. Presumably, people who undertake heavy physical activities and put more pressure on their back, are prone to develop this condition in the earlier stages of their lives, and experience pain as the result.
Degenerative disc disease can also lead to other disorders such as:
• Narrowing of the canal that houses the spinal cord and nerve
The main Cause of the development of Degenerative disc disease is aging:
As the body ages, the discs in the spine dehydrate or dry out, and lose their ability to act as shock absorbers between the vertebral bodies. The bones and ligaments that make up the spine also become less flexible and thicken. These conditions become more of an issue due to the minimal blood supply to the discs, unlike the muscles; so they lack reparative powers.
In this process, fibro-cartilage replaces the gelatinous mucoid material of the nucleus pulposus. Nucleus pulposus is the jelly-like substance in the middle of the spinal disc. Its function is to distribute pressure in all directions within each disc under compressive loads.
While this degeneration is a normal process of aging – It is rather a ‘Condition’ than a ‘disease’ - and for some people does not create any physical issues; for others can be accompanied by inflammation, be very painful and hence affecting their life quality dramatically. This difference is mainly because some people have nerve endings that penetrate more deeply into the outer layers of their discs, producing an area more prone to inflammation and pain.
Other factors that can contribute to the development of inflammation and pain, as a result of this condition, are the life styles and the different works that people do. Presumably, people who undertake heavy physical activities and put more pressure on their back, are prone to develop this condition in the earlier stages of their lives, and experience pain as the result.
Degenerative disc disease can also lead to other disorders such as:
• Narrowing of the canal that houses the spinal cord and nerve